The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-09-15
THE GRAND PARADE.

How the Big Column viii be F0rmed-A Special
Telephone Line TO be Erected Along the Route
to Guide the Movements Of the Army Of yeter-
ans.
As all indications point to the largest gather
ing this year the GAR. has yet held, and most
probably the largest 1t will ever hold, the great
marching column on the day of parade will be
the grandest sight the country has witnessed
since the memorable review of the victorious
army at Washington following the declaration
of peace. The arrangements made for the big
march by the Local Committee at st. Louis are
all on the basis of $4,000 men in the column.
Every effort will be made TO have this great
army moved with the same smooth order that
distinguished the disciplined hosts in blue
when they came from the fiery trials
of war, the finest body Of trained soldiers
the world ever looked upon. Duo regard has
been had to the fact that the great majority
of the GAR comrades are veterans in years
as well as experience so the line of march has
been cut down TO as close limits as was pOssi-
bic. 1t will not be a hard pull for the gray
haired old men who bave enough of former
yigor for tramp OF three or four miles.
THE LINE OF MARCH.
The head of the column will start from
Fourth and Washington avenue and move
southwark to ChOuteau avenue where Fourth
street and Broadway join. At the point of
return north by the way of Broadway to Wash
ingtOn avenue, turning northward on the lat
ter street. Moving westward to Seventeenth,
the column will pass southwark on that street
10 Locust, thence west again 10 Twenty-second,
thence south 10 Olive and east on that street
past the reviewing stand at Twelfth, after
which the commands will be dismissed.
MOVING BY TELEPHONE
A novel expedient is TO be adopted during
this parade in st. Louis. to insure the steady
movement Of the column and to prevent any
Of the ugly, yawning gaps which SO frequently
mar the imposing effect Of these great specta-
cles. A special telephone line is to be arranged
along the line Of march, by means of which
the Grand Marshal will be constantly advised
Of what is going on all along the line and can
instantly convey orders TO any part of the COL
umn. This is an entirely new idea, and will
be put in operation in st. Louis for the first
time. At intervals of three blocks along the
line of march, in convenient buildings. tele-
phones will be placed. At each telephone will
be stationed one of the Aids of the Grand Mar
shal. Should break occur midway of the pa.
rade the Aid in charge Of that division will
communicate with the Aid in charge of the
nearest telephone. Knowing how much of the
procession has passed, he can form q very good
idea Of the location of the head of the process
sion. Calling up the telephone nearest the
head Of the procession he will announce the
break in the line. The Grand Marshal will
order a halt until the obstruction can be re.
moved. Then the head of the procession will
start and the procession will move OH in solid
column. The uniformity of parade is ruined
by breaks in the line. Mounted Aids find IL
difficult to reach the head of the procession on
account of the crowded condition Of the streets.
and there is more or less danger TO the lives
and limbs of spectators when these well-mean-
IL. 4
on unaccustomed steeds. The use of the tele-
phone will obyiate all this trouble.
FORMATION OF THE COLUMN.
In accordance with the usual courtesy ex-
tended to the Department in which the En-
campment is held, Missouri will have the right
of the line and Blair Post, No. ], will be in
the front. The Department of Illinois will
come next by right of seniority, and the other
Departments will follow according to their date
of organization. OF course, there will bo an
advance-guard of mounted police to clear the
way, and the COmmanderin-Chief,w with his
brilliant retinue of Staff Officers aud Aids, will
be ahead of the column. His immediate escort
will be the Wilcox Armed Battalion, of Spring
| field, Mass. This command will be 100 strong.
and, being armed, will be in the appropriate
position Immediately preceding Commander
in-Chief Fairchild.
THE music.
The first band of music in the column will
precede the Grand Marshal, who will be In
advance of the COmmander-in- Chief. Other
bands will be placed at convenient distances
| apart in the column and as the advices so far
received indicate that there will be about SC
| bands in all, not counting the drum corps and
trnmpeters; it is expected there will be nc
lack of martial strains for any division of the
column. At points along the line stands are to
| be erected for singing societies. who will en-.